'Dear stupid idiots...' Furious pupils write to thieves after raid on special school

The words of a devastated pupil at a special needs school who has written to the louts who broke in and stole its beloved birds.

Thieves struck at Jane Lane School in Churchill Road in Bentley, Walsall, stealing more than 50 birds from an aviary in the grounds.

Tony Milovsorov, headteacher at the school for children with special education needs aged seven to 19, said the birds were looked after by the children and were therapeutic for them.

Lovebirds, canaries, finches and cockatiels were among the birds stolen.

Now, in an attempt to get them back, a number of pupils have written letters to the thieves during their English class, asking for them to be returned.

Brandon Platt, aged 12, addressed his letter to 'stupid idiots'.

It read: "Dear stupid idiots. I'm writing to you because we are really angry that you stole our birds. I am furious, why have you done this?"

"I had two birds and one was called poppy and the boy was called Kevin. I have a lot of time feeding them and they help me to stay calm and relaxed."

Fellow pupil Aaron Burgess, 15, who is in year 10, had three birds stolen. He added: "I feel upset."

The caretaker discovered there had been a break-in and the birds had gone at 7.15am on Thursday morning.

West Midlands Police are investigating the incident and visited the school on Friday.

Mr Milovsorov believes the thieves got in through a gate backing onto common land at the rear of the school.

He said: "Any situation where there's a theft from the school is stealing from the community.

"It is appalling behaviour from my point of view and I hope any publicity might provoke a response from people who might have heard about who took them.

"The ideal solution would be someone somehow trying to get them back here so we can repopulate the aviary.

"On Thursday morning the caretaker did a perimeter of the site, and found a truck tyre had been stood up against the fencing at the back of the school. We've developed the theory that it was used to climb in and out of the grounds.

"The purpose of it being in the school is that – as we're a special school – the birds are therapeutic for the children.

"From the children's point of view, particularly those that looked after them it is quite devastating."

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Police were called to reports of a burglary where birds were stolen from an aviary at Jane Lane School, Churchill Road, Bentley.

"It is believed to have happened between 6.30pm on Wednesday and 7.10am on Thursday."

Anyone with information on the incident that can help return the birds to Jane Lane School is urged to call 101.